Hydraulic rotary drill stem



HYDRAULIC ROTARY DRILL STEM Filed 001;. 7, 1925 Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES EARL A. REED, or

TULSA, OKLAHOMA HYDRAULIC ROTARY DRILL STEM.

Appii'cation ined october The invention relates to improvements in drill stems for use in connection with hydraulic rotary drills generally employed in the drilling of oil wells and the like.

lndrills of this character the drill stein usually consists of a plurality of complemental pipe sections threaded together. ln the operation of the hydraulic rotary drill this drill is generally rotated in a clockwise direction. Frequently the bit or pipe becomes wedged in the well and the pipe is twisted in two. 1 In such cases it is frequently necessary to rotate the stem in a counter clockwise direction to relieve its engagement with the walls of the well before the stem can be withdrawn. In prior art practices this counter clockwise rotation 0f the stem has frequently resulted in a separation of the threaded .sections constituting the stem Causing portions of the stem to be left in the hole or well, the removal of which is a serious and expensive problem.

The present invention relates to a drill stein which may be rotated with ease in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction without any danger of unthreading the sections of the drill stem.

With the foregoing conception in mind the invention primarily consists in providing each drill stem section at each end thereof with a square or other irregularly formed opening capable of receiving a similarly formed turning tool which is inserted in the drill stem so that when either this tool or the drill stem is moved in a counter clockwise direction or in a direction opposite to the lead of the threads coupling said sections, the stem may be revolvedwithout separating the connected sections. It will be understood that thesev drill stems are formed with circular water feeding openings, and in my invention the openings intermediate the ends of each drill stem section are circular, while such openings at the ends of each section are square or of some other irregular shape.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a sectional view throng a pair of connected ldrill stein sections. 4

Figure 2 represents a horizontal section view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing the longitudinal polygonal locking tool 12 in place.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numerals 1 7, 1925. Serial No. 60,956.

and 2 designate a stem sections which of 22 feet or n'iore. A drill collar constructed in accordance with this invention carries the drilling bit. The drill stein is, of course, at times of a llength upwardsl of several thousand feet, depending upon the depth of the well. sired number of stein sections are employed. Each stein section has an intermediate or central aperture 3 which is preferably round and through which water or other liquid passes' to the drill. In the past the central openings 3 in these sections have been uniformly round throughout the length of these sections. The central opening 3 in each stem section near each end is provided with rectangular openings 4 and These openings may be oblong or any other irregular shape, but cannot be circular. The drill stein section 1 is formed with a box end 6 threaded at 7 to receive the pin end of an adjacent section. Each section is likewise foi-ined with a pin end 9 provided with threads 10, both the pin endwand box end of each section being tapered. It will be apparent from this description that the section ii'iay be freely united by screwing the pin end of one section into the box end of an adjacent section. The threads have a right end lead because in operation the stem is rotated clockwise for the purpose of revolving or rotating the drill in the Well or hole.

It frequently happens that the drill or some parts of the apparatus become jammed or wedged in the well or hole, and in fact the drill stein is often twisted in two. In cases of this character it is necessary to rotate the drill stein in a counter clockwise direction to release any binding that may be occurring between the drill, the stein and the walls of the hole or well before the stem can be withdrawn. With right hand threads such a rotation has frequently caused the drill stem 'sections to separate when using the prior art devices. Should such a condition be encountered, however, when using a. drill stem and drill constructed in accordance with this invention a square or rectangular tool 12 as shown in Figure 2 is inserted in the hollow drill stein. This tool is of a shape conforming to the shape of the square openings4 and 5 at each end of each drill section. When the tool is inserted in the drill stem and the drill stein then rotated counter clockwise it naturally backs olf the drill stem and the drill without in any way causing a counter clockpair of connected drill When a well is of such a depth ,the de-v ai'e generally of a length wise rotation of adjacent drill stem sections because said sections are locked and all move together. This counter clockwise rotation is continued until the drill and the stem are so disengaged from the walls of the well that the stem can be freely removed. It is apparent that this rotation may be effected without danger of disengaging any section of the stem from an adjacent section thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A drill hollow rotary drill stem sections adapted to be associated together in end to end aligned relation, screw means for securing the adjacent ends of said sections together for rotation in unison in one direction, the adjacent ends of said sections being formed with registering axially aligned passages of non-ciroular contour, said passages being adapted for reception of a locking tool passed axially through the several sections of the drill stem, whereby to lock any desired number of said sections together for rotation in unison in the opposite direction.

2. A drill stem comprising a plurality of hollow rotary drill stein sections adapted to be associated together in end .to end aligned relation, screw means for securing the adjastem comprising a plurality of cent ends of said sections together for rota-l tion in unison in one direction, the adjacent ends of said sections being formed with registering axially aligned passages of non-circular contour, and the non-circular passages of each pair of adjacent ends being arranged in registering relation, whereby a locking tool may be passed axially through the several sections of the drill stem for locking any desired number of said sections together for unitary rotation in any direction.

3. A drill stem comprising a plurality of hollow rotary drill stem sections having a threaded joint connection one with the other, the threads of the several joints being correspondingly directed whereby said drill stem may be rotated in one direction Without unscrewing said sections, the adjacent ends at each joint being provided with non-circular passages in registration and the passages of the several joints being arranged in registration, whereby a non-circular locking element may be inserted axially through said drill stem for the purpose of locking any desired number of said sections. together Jorrotation in either direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EARL A. REED. 

